Manifolding machine



May 17, 1932. STERN ET L 1,858,313

MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1929 E SheetS Shee t l y 1932- M. c.STERN ET AL 58,313

MANIFOLDIN MACHINE Filed July 29, 1929 s sheets- -sheet 2 May 17, 1932.M. c. STERN ET AL.

MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mu;- 0 m wmwhim l Patented May 11,1932

= aim STATES PATENT. oFFicE salmon hermit Aim vimmm c. rrmr'na, orDamon, one. ABSIGNOBS 'rom near nnorsrna comm, or narrow,onrdn'conrona'rroiv or onrd tuna-01.1mm mnonmn Application filed July29, Serial No. 881,798.

This invention relates to feeding of paper webs and thelike,particularly in devices such as manifolding machines, or the like.

(me of the principal objects of the invention is to provide means forsupplying a group of loosely arranged superimposed sheets, ofselectingfrom said group each sheet independently of the other, of collating andalignin said sheets successively independentlyo one another as alignedand delivering into analigned, collated group.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a feeding device formanifolding or analogous machines adapted during operation to feed thewebs to provide a measured web slackness permitting the webs to bethereafter pulled at their issuing ends a distance corresponding to theweb eed desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a feedingdevice of the character mentioned which is constructed as, a unitadapted to be readily associated with the web llfilllzlllg device, suchasv a m'anifolding mame.

Other'objects'and advantages of the-invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and from the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention as embodied in amanifolding machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion ofthe mechanism of Figs. 1 and2, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fra mentarysectional view along the line 44 0 Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 1s an enlarged detail of .the transmission gearing of the device;I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 66 of Fig. 2; I Fig.7 is a plan viewof, a modified 'form of stri per mechanism; and 1g. 8 isa fragmentary sectional view of the ,modification of Fig. 7. 2

the billing machine unit 10, suitable For purposes of description and asconstituting a preferred adaptation and embodiment of the invention, itis herein illustrated j and described in connection with a manifoldingmachine of well known type. The manifolding machine shown is one knownas a billing machine, such as is widely used, in which the paperutilizing device comprises a fiat stationary platen and a cooperating,movable typewriter, the platen receiving several superimposed webs ofpaper or the like arranged as series of connected record blanks, on.which the typewriter operates.

- As'shown the billing or manifolding machine, which is of the fiatplaten type, is designated gen'erally by the numeral 10';

while the paper feeding unit is designated generally b the numeral. 11.The portion 10 has a mova 1e typewriter 12 which is adapted I to travelor be moved tOWfiIld or from the operator on the railsvl3 and over theplaten 14. The rails and the platen are supported by a suitable frame orstandard 15. As ordinarily used, machines of this type are adapted tosimultaneously record an original and a number of duplicate copies of-abill,

memorandum or other paper, the paper webs as shown being supplied from aroll 16 arranged conveniently at the rear of the machine. With suchmachines the pa r is sometimes supplied from a plurality 0 rolls,

7 or from a stack or .stacks of connected blanks.

In accordance with the means are provided for insuring the roper orderlycorrelation of the sheets and their proper feeding movement throu h themachine. Referring particularly to igs. 1 and 2, the feeding attachmentcomprises a frame 18 constructed to be attached to the frame of thebilling machine, this being accomplished by properly orming theconnecting ends of the frame 18 to receive or fit the frame of clamps19. being provided to firmly connect the two pprtions together. A brakeroller 18a is piv present invention,

tit)

otally supported on the arm 186 which in webs which needs to be pulledforwardly at. turn is plvotally; supported on the frame 18. theirissuing ends to give the desired amount As shown these clamps areapplied to .the rearportions of the lde rails 13 which pro-v ject aconsiderable dIStaIlCBfO the rear of the platen zone. The frame 18 isprovided With roll supporting members which preferably have inclinedupper ed es which serve as ways up which the rolls 0 paper may bereadily rolled to bring the supporting shaft or spindle 21, for thepaper rolls, into the supporting journal groove 22. The webs from theroll are extended to pass over suitable.rollers and then pass forwardlyover of advancing of the series'of forms with reference to the workdevice. The cut-0E bar and the clips being then returned to holdingposition the operator may tear off the completed record sheets, leavingthe next succeeding formsheld in position to be properly operated upon.1

To provide pers to the work end, the feeding unit 11 is used. Thiscomprises as an element a motor 37, suitably mounted upon the frame 18,the shaft of which is operatively coupled to a for suitably feeding thepa- 75 the face of the platen 14 with their issuing drive shaft 40. Thedrive shaft carries a 80 ends at the front of the paper using machineadjacent the operator.v At this end of the machine there is provided aclamp and cut off mechanism comprisinga bar 25 adapted to hold theissuing ends of the webs against the platerifthe' front edge of this barserving as a tear off edge so that the operator may conveniently andrapidly sever the sheets or record forms that have been completed. Thecut off bar 25 is adapted to be raised to release the issuing ends ofthe webs by a suitable device such as a foot lever 27 I Theholding clips30 are worked in cooperawhich is-connected thereto by suitable linkageso that when the lever 27 is depressed, the cut ofi bar 25 is raised,and vice versa. A, suitable spring 22' or th likeis provided to returnthe bar 25 to its pldin position on the web when the foot pedal 2 isreleased.

tion with the bar 25, from thepedal-through the linkage, to hold therear portion of the issuing strips in operative positioning within thework device, and to release the,webs when it is'desired .toefiectjeeding of .the, webs.

' pedal, until after theclamp bar 25 does,

, The number of interrelated sheets used The arrangement is such thatthe clips do release the sheets, upon operation of the they regripthesheets before the clamp;bai 25 does. Asa resultjthe sheets maybe drawnor fed ,the' fulLrequired distance over the platen, and drawn and heldsnug and smooth thereover for the typewriting operation.

will of course vary with the requirements of the'particular conditionsencountered in use,

but the drawings illustrate an arrangement. whereby sevenseries of formscontainedin a;

' single roll are adapted to bemoved forward- 1y acrossthe platen fromthe supply source in such manner that webs are fed fromthe roll throughthe place of utilihation in predetermined amount to 'provide slacknesstherein, beyond the zone of such feeding, ac-

cording to the length of the record. sheets. This predetermined feedinghaving h'eenac- *complished the operator may release the web plampingmeans and then pull the stfips for wardl'j to take-up the slack in thewebs. The

arrangement is such that the.amount of slack is' controlled to providejust the extent of the and T gear 43 which meshes 'with an intermediategear 44, which in turn meshes with a gear 45 on a driven shaft 46. Thegear 43' is mounted to be readily removed from the shaft 40 smallergear, the size of the geafused being dependent upon the amount 0 feeddesired to be imparted to the paper Webs. l he intermediate gear 44', ismounted upon a sector 46"which is in turn pivotally carried upon or:

down so that it may be replaced by 'a larger or therewith. Shaft 46 isprovided with a belt 9'.

driving roll 47 which forms a feeding or drive means for belts 48, eachof which "belts extends partly around its cooperating roll 47 and arounda second roll 49 provided adjacent the upper portion of.the frame. Twolot of these belts are shown. Preferably the roll 49 is adjustablymounted so that by means of suitable adjusting screws 50 various lengthsof belts may be accommodated. Each of these thebelts have drive holestherein/adapted to receive teeth 57 on the" roll 47 to effect positive'drive and locking of the belts Ofcourse sprockets and chains, or for.ca'rr plage ,0 these belts. n the form of apparatus shown, 'web'apertures is equal to the length of the record sheets, and the ln s arearranged on the belts so that the,- istance between adja-- cent lugs oneach belt corresponds with the distance between cooperating apertures 56in the 'webs, and the lugs are adapted to move in line with theapertures of the webs during other suitable means, 5 ing the feedin lugsmay be used in .1:-

not belts carries spaced feeding members or lugs Eli the distancebetween suceesslve rfeeding operation, one lug coming into ell- 12;

.gagement with. an aperture before the next preceding lug passes out ofengagement with its cooperating aperture. In this manner for: wardfeeding of the 'webs during linear movement ofthe lugs is affected. Theendless carb the drive shaft after fully disclosed in zontal movementwhile carrying the paper, or

at an inclination asshown in the drawing as best meets requirements. b

For any given installation the belts 48 are arranged for feedingmovement, upon actuation, controlled in accordance with the length ofthe form being used. Preferably the belts are arranged to be started bymanually operated-control and automatically stopped after apredetermined feeding movement. As shown an electric motor drive withsuitable controls is provided so that the operator may start the motorto cause .the proper feeding movement of the belts through a desireddistance after which the belts are stopped and held locked in position,until the succeeding feeding movement. This permits the operator to pullthe issuing ends of the webs to take up the slack thus provided inthe'web-s, while the web clamping means is loosened or released'asdescribed above. The motor 37, and the drive connected therewith, may beprovided with any suitable control means for manual starting-andautomatic stopping. The automatic stopping meanshere used is a copendingapplication, Ser. No. 420567, filed January 11, 1930, by lVilliam C.feifi'er and Frank E. Pfeiffer. The details of this automatic stoppingmechanism are no part of this invention. The above application showssuch a form as is well adapted to be used in connection with thestructure defined in the present application. As shown a push bar isplaced with one end convenient to the operator, which in turn actsthrough the lever 61 to close an electric switch for the starting of themotor. Ass0- ciated with the switch suitable control and latchmechanism, not shown in detail, which acts, following actuation andrelease of the bar 60 by the operator, to effect a predeterminedrotation of the drive shaft 40, after which the parts are returned toinoperative position ready to repeat the same'sequence of movements. And

it has moved to advance the paper webs from the supply roll 16 towardsthe platen'the required distance, is locked by the control means againstfurther rotation. Control devices for accomplishing I such manualstarting and automatic stopping and locking of a rotatable roll or shaftare well known in themselves and it is therefore believed the exactconstruction of theswitch, stop and drive mechanism referred to general-1y and contained in the housing 42, need not i be further illustrated ordescribed.

'Mounted on the shaft 46 is a gear which is in driving mesh with anidler gear 71, which in turn meshes with and drives the gear 72,suitably mountedon the frame 18, Also mounted on'the frame adjacent thegear 72 are tWofeeding rolls 73 and 74 which aregeared together by meansof the gears 75.

and the lever 61 is a ,v

One of these gears 7 5 also meshes with and is driven by the gear 72..The roll 73 is mounted within the frame 18. The roll 74 is links 76 eachof which has an elongated slot 77 to receive the shaft of the roll 7 3and permit movement of the links and the roll 74 under the action of theadjustablejension spring 78 73"74-in frame 18, which slots permit bodilymovement of the roll with respect to the roll 73. Also mounted in theframe 18 is a shaft 85 which passes through the tension link 76 andcarries an adjustment cam 86 thereon, preferablyformed by flatting theshaft where it passes through the tension" links. Suit able operatinghandle or knob 89 is mountedon the shaft 85, and upon turning of thisshaft the links will be moved to separatethe I rolls 73 and 74, .Thetension spring 78 urges the links in a direction opposite to themovement caused'by the cam 86 and in normal ,when it is threaded betweenthese rolls.

During operation the rolls 7 37 4. being positively driven in accordwith the feeding lugs 55, feed, the webs from the roll 16 at the neededrate. thus preventing possibility of tearing of the paper by the feedinglugs: mounting the roll 16 with This permits of which tends to bring thetwo rolls engagement. The shaft of the roll 74 extends through elongatedslots 79 in the mounted within a pair of slidable, or tension i suitablefrictional or other resistance to its turning to prevent uncontrolledunwinding of the paper webs. Under this arrangement all the webs exceptthe outer or driving one will have a bagging or loop, as shown, theamount of which will depend upon the man ner in which the forms arewound in coordinated relationship onthe roll. After the sheet90 passesbetween the rollers 73 and 7 4, it is looped as at 90a. I

Under the action of the feeding rolls 73-74 the webs, which aredesignated respectively 90, 91, 92. 93, 94, and 96. travel from thesupply roll 16 over the auxiliary guide memer 97. where they are againbrought together in superimposed relationship toward a series ofcollating rollers. All of the webs engage the first of these rollerswhich are designated by thenumeral 100, the web 90 separating from theother webs at this point and travelling down around this .roller 100 andunder the next succeeding roller 100,

ed individually by one offthe rollers 100.

Each web is the other webs and then'brou-ght into supertherefore first"separated from the websfr om rising of! of thepins until the that eachweb is thus free for such minor movement or adjustment as willcausethethem lugs to squarely and certainly pick up the' web and properlyposition it upon the feedall the other webs- The rollers 100 areprovided with suitable grooves 101 into which the lugs extend as theypass beneath the rollers, these grooves permitting the forward movementof the pins so the latter may engage the paper webs beneath the rollersas the pins move by. The arrangement of the parts shown in Fig. 4illustrates the apertures of the webs 90 and 91 in engagement with thelugs 55. The apertures in web 92' are about a to be engaged by the lugs,and while being thus engaged it will be apparent that this web will beshifted slightly if need be, with relation to the other webs, the lowfrictional resistance due to the separation of the sheets readilypermitting this, so that it may be brought into registration with thelug position in case it is not already in that relation ship.- ,Theapertures-in the webs 93, 94, .95 and 96 have not yet been picked up bythe lugs 55, but these will bepicked up succes-. sively as'the lugs movewhile advancing the sheets towards thevplaten -zone.- The holes in allthe webs will thus be brought in registration when the webs have beenpicked up vanced ator,--and the recordsheets are thereforecoordinatedand properly stacked so as to'be in their roper relationship withrespect to one anot er. When the operator pulls the papers toward him heis thus assured that the record sheets pulled onto the platen will beproperly coordinated. The particular, mechanism shown for rotatin'g thepaper roll and -for'interim adjusting of the sheets of paper duringfeeding is not claimed herein as it forms thesub ect matter of acompanion application of Wil- 9 the lugs and to facilitate their properfeeding into the loop 106; v This roller 49 is grooved at 110 to receivebelts 48. Above the upper portion of each belt adjacent this roller is aguide strip'111 which prevents with the previouslying lugs in properadjusted relationship with v on the feeding lugs, before the webs areadto the-platen by the pull of the oper paper is about to engagetheroller 49. As

the paper rides over this roller the lugs are;

moved out of the apertures, as the belts are in the grooves while thepaper is carried over the roller surface. The. lugs therefore cannottend to carry the webs around the roller. An additional advantage in'this atrangement is the frictional drive which is given to the paper byreason of the surface of the roller 49, this frictional drive tending topush the paper along even after the lugs are entirely freed from thepaper apertures.

The two belts 48' vv henoperatively stretched between the two rolls 47and 4.9

provide two flat surfaces "for holding the forwardly feeding papers. Aspace 105 of substantial size is provided between the rear edge of theplaten zone and the upper or forward-portion of the belts 48, this spacebeing provided to accommodate that slackness in the webs whichresultsfgom such forward feeding, the webs being-permitted to hang in a loop asindicated at- 106 in Fig.1, until the issuing ends of the strips arepulled by the operator to withdraw used forms from the machine andproperly position fresh sheets or blanks over the platen.' 4

it It will now be understood that the operator, after finishing onegroup of record sheets, and desiring to remove them from the series ofwebs and move a fresh group of blanks into position on the platen, firstpushes the control 60. The mot r 37 is thus caused to operate thefeeding m chanism, and the lugs 55 are moved by the elts 48" through adistance previously arranged for and corresponding to the len h of therecord forms tbein' used. Sincet .e paper holding means within theplaten zone is at this time 1n pa-v per holding position this producesthe slackness 106' of the proper amount, corresponding to the length ofthe record sheets.v The erator then depresses the treadle 27 to releasethe completed forms and pulls forwardlythe proper distance forthe-length of a blank- I used. On release of the treadle the cut-off bar25 then returns to its operative or holding position with its edgepositioned for severing the completed forms.

A further advantage inthe arrangement or record being for individuallystacking the sheets on the.

lugs or feeding means liesin the convenience and facility with which thevarious webs are first threaded through or applied from the workoperation having been finished, the oproll 16 to the platen. ,The firstweb 90 may I be conveniently pulled around the guide member 97 and upand over the guide roller 100. When the apertured endof the sheet isabout to be inserted under the next roll .100, the belt 48 may beadvanced manually to pick up the apertures in the sheet and pull thissheet under the 91 is then applied'in turn to guide member 97 and roll100 and its apertures 56 may then be individually picked up by the lugs5 5 which may be moved the short distance required for this purpose.Each sheet is thus picked up individually and they are then fedforwardly in exact registration.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a different form stripper mechanism. In thismodification the upper roller 49 is provided with grooves 110, but thesegrooves are only suliiciently deep to serve to receive and guide thebelts 48; the diameter of the roll 49 in general being substantiallyuniform throughout. To effectively strip the paper webs from the lugs 55a stripper plate 113 is provided, which as shown has a portion projectedbackward ly between the two belts, and beneath the belts. Whenthe paperwebs are threaded through the machine, the forward ends will thus rideforwardly over the rear portion of the stripper plate, which is soproportioned and positioned as shown in Fig. 8 that the paper webs willbe completely lifted from-the lugs before these lugs start their reversemovement around the upper roller 49 in connection with the rearwardtravel of the low-' er part of the belts. As shown this stripper plateis of light metal and has its lower end 114. bent around a'supportin bar112 which is suitably mounted inthe fee in unit frame. By properlyformin this curve portion the stripper plate may Ire readily snappedinto and out of position.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that chan es maybe made therein without departing om the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims;

. What is claimed is 1. In a machine for for delivering a plurality ofsuperimposed sheets, means for separating said sheets, a

collating means, and means forapplying said sheets to said collatingmeans separately and independently one of theother.

2. In a machine for collating paper, means for delivering a plurality ofsuperimposed. sheets, means for separating said sheets, a collatingmeans, sheets to said collating means independently one of the other andsuccessively in superimposed relationship.

' 3. In for delivering a plurality of superimposed roll 100. The ncktweb" livering each collating paper, meansand means for applying said amachine for collating sheets, means,

of the other successively to collating position.

4. In a machine for collating sheets, means for delivering a pluralityof superimposed sheets, a collating means and means for deof the othersuccessively to collating position, and means for maintaining saidsheets in collated tionship.

5. In a machine for collating sheets, means for delivering said sheetsin superimposed relationship as a group, and means to separate saidsheets one b one from said group, a collating means, and means to mountsaid sheets one "by one successively on said collating means to assemblesaid sheets "in a second superimposed ali ed group.

6. In a machine for co latingsheets, means for delivering said sheets insuperimposed relationship as a group, and means to separate said sheetsone by one from said group, a collating means, sheets one byone-successively on said: colpositionqin superimposed relalating meansto assemble said sheets in a.

second superimposed aligned group, said cellating means being arran edto receive each of said separate sheets in ependently of the other atdiiferent positions with respect to thefirst mentioned group:

7. he machine forcollating sheets, means said sheets one by one,rangedto receive each of the said sheets successively independently .ofthe other sheets of said sheets independently one I and means to mountsaid for assembly in a second aligned group, and

means to move said 8' PS imultaneously continuously. l

8. In a machinefor collating sheets, a co'ntinuously traveling collatingmeans and means to feed a;plurality of sheets theretosuccessivelyindependently of one another as the collating means moveswhereby the sheets will be grouped in the collating means in col ated.

9. In combination in a machine for col lating sheets, a moving belt,spaced collated studs thereon, a plurality of superimposed verticallyand laterally spaced separating rollers over said belt having meansthrough which said studs canpass through said rolls and means ofdelivering a group of sheets to said rolls,

each sheet being separated from said group by passing betweenadjacentrolls and independently delivered to the studs and belt whilebeing maintained thereon after being mounted on the studs and belt bysaid rolls.

10. -In a machine belt, collating studs ing below the height of saidstuds arranged for collating sheets, a .thereon, rollers extendalignmentbut each sheet being independently in spaced relationship over said beltat different heights therefrom, and means of deliveringa. group ofsheets to be separated by said rollers and indefendently successivelymounted on said 'co group, said rolls being adjusted to aligned latingstuds into an retain sud sheets on said belt and stud.

In testimony whereof we h'ereto afiix our signatures.

MILTON 0. STERN. WILLIAM C PFEIFFER.

